Legalizing Plural Marriage: The Next Frontier in Family Law

Brandeis Series on Gender, Culture, Religion, and Law

by Mark Goldfeder

Polygamous marriages are currently recognized in nearly fifty countries worldwide. Although polygamy is technically illegal in the United States, it is practiced by members of some religious communities and a growing number of other “poly” groups. In the radically changing and increasingly multicultural world in which we live, the time has come to define polygamous marriage and address its legal feasibilities. Although Mark Goldfeder does not argue the right or wrong of plural marriage, he maintains that polygamy is the next step―after same-sex marriage―in the development of U.S. family law. Providing a road map to show how such legalization could be handled, he explores the legislative and administrative arguments which demonstrate that plural marriage is not as farfetched―or as far off―as we might think. Goldfeder argues not only that polygamy is in keeping with the legislative values and freedoms of the United States, but also that it would not be difficult to manage or administrate within our current legal system. His legal analysis is enriched throughout with examples of plural marriage in diverse cultural and historical contexts. Tackling the issue of polygamy in the United States from a legal perspective, this book will engage anyone interested in constitutional law, family law, or criminal law, along with sociologists and those who study gender and culture in modern times.

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2015

Reviews

[RJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might be more inclined to provide a better review had it not been for the argument supporting plural marriage that was along the lines of “your mans is broken and you’re unhappy, why hold him accountable when you can just bring more people into the mix to ensure he never learns responsibility!!!”

Did a mans write this? A mans did. 🙄

[Lavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting information on the legal ramifications of changing the way marriage works in America. Comparisons include how different states handle same sex marriage as well as parallels in business law. Recommended to anyone interested in law.